How to Play the Game of Sorry! for Family Game Night

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Family game night is a wonderful way to spend quality time together, and playing the game of Sorry! can add lots of fun and excitement. This classic board game is easy to learn and suitable for players of all ages. Here’s a simple guide on how to play Sorry! for your next family gathering.

Objective of the Game

The main goal of Sorry! is to be the first player to move all your pawns from your start area to your home space. Players do this by drawing cards and moving their pawns accordingly, while trying to hinder opponents’ progress.

Setup

Each player chooses a color and takes the four pawns of that color. Place all pawns in your start area. Shuffle the deck of Sorry! cards and place it face down in the center of the board. Each player draws a card to determine who goes first—the highest card wins.

Gameplay

Players take turns clockwise. On your turn, draw a card and follow its instructions. Cards dictate how many spaces you can move your pawns or what special actions you can take. The most common cards include:

  • 1 or 2: Move a pawn forward 1 or 2 spaces. You can also choose to move a pawn from your start area onto the starting space.
  • 3: Move forward 3 spaces.
  • 4: Move backward 4 spaces.
  • 5: Move forward 5 spaces.
  • 7: Split the move between two pawns, moving one 7 spaces and the other the remaining number.
  • 10: Move forward 10 spaces or backward 1 space.
  • 11: Move forward 11 spaces or swap positions with an opponent.
  • Sorry!: Move a pawn from your start area directly to a space occupied by an opponent, sending their pawn back to start.

If you cannot make a move, your turn ends. Remember, you can only move pawns that are on the board or from start if the card allows.

Special Rules

Here are some important rules to keep in mind:

  • Sliding: If your pawn lands on a space with a slide, it slides forward to the end of the slide, sending any pawns in its path back to start.
  • Sending Pawns Back: If you land on a space occupied by an opponent, you send their pawn back to start.
  • Getting to Home: To move a pawn into your home area, you must land exactly on the home space with a card that allows the exact move.

Winning the Game

The first player to move all four of their pawns into their home area wins the game. Celebrate your victory and plan your next game night!